It's ridiculous but I've grown fond of my old Mondeo. Perhaps it is because it survived the Lewes floods.

My Mondeo had a brush with a camper van and I took it to the garage. Soon after, the man from the garage called, saying "I'm sorry Mr Parker, your car is a write-off. It was submerged in the floods.

"Didn't you get any warning?" I asked. "About 20 minutes, Sir. But the manhole covers lifted and the water came in so quickly, we were more interested in saving ourselves than the cars."

Six months later, I got a call from someone from a breakers yard in Canvey Island, saying: "I have your car and will give you £100 for it."

That surprised me because I thought when a car was written off, the title went to the insurance company.

I spoke to my Garage, DH Autos in Hove and they advised me to get it back as it was worth more than £100.

Last week I found a replacement for my old workhorse.

It's a car that's manufactured in England - sadly I'll have to wait until my boat comes in. And that, readers, is a clue. Have you got it?

I've seen Nissan UK's latest car - the new Primera - built in Sunderland.

The Sunderland plant is the most productive factory in Europe where each employee is reckoned to build 102 vehicles per year.

Nissan expects 80 per cent of the new Primeras will be exported to Europe. That's good business.

I'd never been to a vehicle launch and it was a surprise to see rows of gleaming new cars in front of Hurstpierpoint College.

Rather shyly, I said I was from the Argus and was given a good lunch and shown the cars.

I noticed the motor columnists were allowed to drive the cars. Nissan's man in charge, in the nicest possible way, made sure I was not given an ignition key.

The new Primera looked good - clean, comfortable and I liked the lines.

To help the elderly and confused, it has a marvellous satellite navigation system, which even I could master. "Turn left at the next set of traffic lights," said a kindly voice.

And then, "turn right at the pillar box. Carry on up the hill and the Garden of Eden is on the left."

I'm going to send this article to Nissan - perhaps they will like it and give me a demonstration model.

In the real world, I'll have to wait until my boat comes in.